Policy And Resources Committee - 11/11/2002

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 11th November 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Julia STURROCK, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st October 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I SERVICES FOR COUNCILLORS

There was submitted Report No. 791-2002 by the Director of Corporate Planning informing the Committee of the report "First Class Service for First Class Councillors" prepared by the Scottish Local Government Information Unit and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

The Committee:-

(1) noted that most of the recommendations in the report, listed in Appendix One, had already been implemented in Dundee City Council;

(2) agreed that the annual survey of satisfaction with members' support services be extended to include a number of other issues covered in the report, but that the survey of the message form service be discontinued as this had now served its purpose;

(3) agreed the draft protocol which was intended to ensure a consistent response from all departments to councillors? enquiries;

(4) agreed that members be consulted on any additional information which could usefully be included in the Council Diary and that a handbook be produced for all members returned after the Election in 2003, containing relevant information on issues such as departmental structures and contacts, Codes of Conduct, Standing Orders and Financial Regulations, support services, sources of policy and research information and safety;

(5) noted that a list of local byelaws and management rules and a list of members' support services would be added to the intranet as part of the process of expanding the electronic communication of reference information to members; and

(6) agreed that a new Service Plan for the Members' Support Unit would be developed in line with the timetable for the new Corporate Plan in 2003, that performance on the indicators in the Service Plan would be reported to Committee on an annual basis, and that a similar exercise would be carried out during each four year term.

II TENDERS RECEIVED - DISTRICT COURT - UPGRADE OF HEATING AND VENTILATION SYSTEM

After consider Report No. 801-2002 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing offers received for the above, the Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer, being that of Scotia Energy Saving Systems Limited, Glenrothes, in the sum of 72,801.97 to which required to be added an allowance for professional services amounting to 8,028, making a total expenditure of 80,829.97.

The Committee also noted that Scotia Energy Saving Systems Limited had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

CF Electrical Services Limited, Glenrothes Electrical

A G McDonald & Partners, Edinburgh Ceilings

Campbell Control Services, Glasgow Controls

Curtis Insulation, Harthill Insulation

Environment, Thornton Ventilation

III SUPPLY OF IT EQUIPMENT - GCAT

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th September 2002 there was submitted Report No. 797-2002 by the Head of Information Technology containing details of the IT Equipment purchased under the GCAT Government Procurement Scheme.

The Committee:-

(1) noted the IT purchases amounting to 178,038 as detailed in the appendix to the report for the period 9th August 2002 to 30th October 2002; and

(2) approved ongoing engineering maintenance costs of 12,657 per annum.

julia sturrock, Convener.